Crossing With a Neutral Zone
From the October 24, 2007, issue of The Technical Area

This installment of the Coaching Corner comes from the new book Soccer Skills and Drills, published by Human Kinetics. It comes from Chapter 8: Applying Techniques Tactically. For information on how to order a copy of Soccer Skills and Drills, CLICK HERE.

Purpose: To give crossers repeated repetitions at choosing and striking the cross correctly.

Procedure: Four attackers play versus three defenders at either end of half a field. A small neutral zone is created containing two neutral players. All players must stay in their respective zones. The attackers are playing 4 v 3 in each final third. When a defender or the goalkeeper wins posession, he or she plays to the closest neutral player, who then must play a diagonal pass to the opposite crosser, who dribbles and then crosses to the appropriate space. The use of the neutral player and the diagonal pass allows time for the attacking group to organize their runs.

Coaching Points: Always, when crossers are unsure of which space to play to, they should hit the head-high, driven cross through the second six-yard box space. That cross should find one of the runners.

For drill animation, CLICK HERE